Saturday, March 23, 2013

3/22 Recap: Grigorenko gets helpers; Badgers advance

Mikhail Grigorenko notched a pair of assists Friday as Quebec opened the playoffs with a 6-3 loss to Chicoutimi. Laurent Dauphin ('13) helped power les Sagueneens with a goal and an assist, while Anthony Duclair ('13) added 1+1 for the losing side. Game two is Saturday in Quebec City.

In OHL playoff action, Justin Kea (-2) was unable to score but contributed with a fighting major late in the game as Saginaw was defeated by London 5-2. Trailing 5-1 with 8:53 left in the third period, Kea (6'4", 206 lbs.) tussled to a draw with the Knights' Justin Sefton (6'3", 220 lbs.) as the Spirit kept chugging despite the lopsided score. The series continues Sunday afternoon in London.

In the WHL, Andrey Makarov made 40 saves but Saskatoon struggled to generate offense for a second-straight game in a 3-0 loss to Medicine Hat. A mis-fired shot that caused Makarov to over-commit and a busted play to allow a 2x0 break saw the Tigers take a 2-0 lead before potting an empty-netter. The Blades were outworked in front of Makarov for all three periods en route to falling to a 2-0 series hole with the series shifting to Medicine Hat games on Tuesday and Wednesday.



Logan Nelson recorded an assist as Victoria came up short against Kamloops 3-2. Nelson now has five assists in five career post-season contests. The Royals trail the series 1-0 heading into Saturday's game two.

In WCHA Final Five semifinal action, Jake McCabe assisted on the game's first goal as No. 14 Wisconsin advanced to the championship game with a 4-1 win over No. 7 St. Cloud State. Sophmore forward Brad Navin did not register in the victory. Wisconsin will battle Colorado College on Saturday for the automatic berth to the NCAA tourney. It'll be the Badgers first WCHA championship game appearance since 2000.

Christian Isackson finished with a minus-two rating as Minnesota was upset by Colorado College 2-0. With the WCHA semifinal loss, Isackson and the top-ranked Gophers will wait until Sunday at 9PM to find out their first-round destination for the 2013 NCAA tourney.


In the AHL, Mark Mancari scored his 20th goal of the year as Rochester was defeated at Texas 2-1. The short-handed tally gives Mancari seven-straight 20-goal seasons. Colin Jacobs (-2) made his professional debut for the Amerks, while David Leggio made 39 saves to take the loss. Rochester continues their trek through Texas with a Saturday tilt in Houston.

In Sweden, Linus Ullmark made 31 saves to guide MODO J20 to a 4-1 win over Skelleftea. With the series deadlocked at 1-1, the clubs will play a tiebreaker on Saturday for the right to advance to the semifinal round.